FA Premier LeagueDAVID MOYES saw his Everton side reclaim fourth spot in the Premier League yesterday, but still insisted that Liverpool were favourites to clinch the final Champions League place.

Everton beat Portsmouth 3-1 thanks to a double from Nigerian striker Ayegbeni Yakubu and Tim Cahill's 10th goal of the campaign, with Jermain Defoe replying for Portsmouth.

It meant Liverpool, who took fourth spot earlier in the day with a 3-1 win of their own at Bolton, have been pushed out of the top bracket again.

Moyes explained: "Liverpool are still the favourites, they have to be. We have been consistent but for them fourth would be expected. We are doing everything we can to make a fight of it, but the bookies are probably right to make them favourites. They are looking at the two clubs and where they have been in the past and they are making their decision on who are the favourites in the light of that.

"We have to keep our play at this level and keep going right to the end. Our performances are getting better, so all we can do is to put ourselves in a position to keep going forward."

It has been a great week for Everton, who on Monday beat Manchester City, another of the clubs chasing European qualification, 2-0 at Eastlands. Moyes said: "We showed a lot of character to get this result. Portsmouth are top opposition, they don't lose too many away from home and they are hard to score goals against.

"Even with several players down with sickness this week and Mikel Arteta out injured, we have still been able to get a real positive result."

Moyes also praised Cahill, who is one who has been ill all week and had barely trained.

The Australian produced a celebration for his goal which it was later revealed was for his elder brother, who has recently been sent to prison.

Moyes said: "Cahill has also been sick. He has done very light training, but they are all determined to play."

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp insisted his side had done enough to earn a point on his 61st birthday. He said: "At the break, when we were level, I was not satisfied. I felt we were the better team and we were going to go on and win the match.

"But we got caught a bit ragged in defence as we pushed forward looking for goals for ourselves, and we were punished."

Redknapp praised his former player Yakubu, who took his tally for the season to 18 with yesterday's double. Redknapp said: "Yakubu played very well, but that is why I brought him to this country, he's an excellent striker. But I didn't sell him, that was done by people after I had left the club. When I came back to Portsmouth he was gone and I had been left with some strikers who were not fit to clean his boots."

Meanwhile, Rafael Benitez believes Liverpool are right in the frame to clinch a Champions League place. Benitez's side followed up last weekend's Premier League win against Middlesbrough by beating Bolton 3-1 at the Reebok Stadium yesterday.

It was a sweet success for the Spanish coach, given the club's miserable record on the ground.

A bizarre own goal from Jussi Jaaskelainen after 11 minutes sent Liverpool on their way to an emphatic victory. The Bolton goalkeeper turned a shot from Steven Gerrard into his own net with his face and his side never recovered.

Ryan Babel and Fabio Aurelio extended their lead before Tamir Cohen, son of former Liverpool favourite Avi, pulled a goal back.

Liverpool now entertain West Ham on Wednesday in good heart after this comfortable victory. Benitez said: "Every win is important when you are fighting for fourth place.

"You need to put the other teams around you under pressure and we have done that today. As we have a game in hand, it depends on what we do. You do not need to see the table every day. If we can win against West Ham, then we go go into the game after that with confidence."